As we presumed last week, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has appointed Representative Dean Heller (R-NV02) to fill the vacancy in the U.S. Senate created by Senator Ensign’s resignation. This will create the need for a special election to fill the new vacancy in the 2nd District. Nevada will be a key state in the 2012 Presidential Election and this special election has the potential to be a proving ground for both parties. Governor Sandoval released a statement on the appointment of Heller to the Las Vegas Sun who has the rest of the story:

Sandoval had already endorsed Heller for Senate in 2012, and given the boost Heller will get from assuming the title of “senator” and the experience and incumbency that comes with it, Heller seemed his most sensible choice.Eight U.S. senators in Nevada history have been appointed, the most recent being Paul Laxalt on Dec. 18, 1974. None of those appointments created other vacancies in the congressional delegation, as Heller’s does.

Governor Sandoval describes Heller as:

A fiscal conservative who believes in limited government, [who] will fight to keep taxes low and balance the federal budget. He understands that the federal government spends too much money and places too many regulatory burdens on small business. Just as Senator John Ensign fought for states’ rights and sound economic policies, Dean will speak out for the concerns of every-day Nevadans. I am confident he will help get Nevada working again.

Sandoval has pledged to “work closely with Secretary of State Ross Miller on the timing of the upcoming transition and resulting special election. I have asked Secretary Miller to provide me with information on the rules for conducting this election at his earliest convenience.”